Spied: Cadillac ELR Has CUE Touchscreen System, Lexus LFA-Like Gauges

We had already seen its exterior, but now our spy shooter has caught a glimpse inside the upcoming Cadillac ELR electric car. These photos reveal that the ELR will use the same CUE touchscreen infotainment system and button-laden steering wheel as the 2013 Cadillac ATS and XTS, as well as a futuristic instrument cluster similar to that in the Lexus LFA.

An opening in the camouflage allows us to see the Cadillac ELR has the same large touchscreen and touch-operated climate controls as other model that use the company's CUE (it stands for Cadillac User Experience) system. The drivers of this prototype appear to be making use of the system's Bluetooth interface to place a phone call, but that navigation and audio controls are also present -- just like in other new Cadillacs with CUE. The car's steering wheel also looks familiar from new models like the 2013 Cadillac ATS and XTS, with an abundance of buttons on each of the wheel's horizontal spokes.

The instrument cluster appears to be modeled on that of the Lexus LFA supercar, although while the Lexus has an analog tachometer reading to 10,000 rpm, the Cadillac ELR has an analog speedometer with a glowing red needle. At the center of that dial is a color screen showing vehicle speed and other information, and to the left is another display for battery charge state and current energy usage. We also spot a short, leather-wrapped transmission selector in the center console.

The exterior of this Cadillac ELR looks just like the one we spotted hot-weather testing in September. The coupe's roofline drops toward the stubby decklid sharply, producing a triangular greenhouse. In profile, it looks like a smaller Cadillac CTS coupe. The rounded front end, though, reminds us of the Chevrolet Volt -- no coincidence given that the ELR is essentially a luxurious, two-door version of the Volt.